Engine-starter.



E. N. RITTASE.

ENGINE STARTER.

APPLICATION FILED 11:12.8,1909

Patented May 3. 1910.

Ehwanfoz FFIQE.

EFHRAIM N. RITTASE, F MANCHESTER, MARYLAND.

ENGIIQE-STARTER.

shaft as soon the first explosion of the engine occurs. These cranks however have been dangerous, because when they are disengaged 1nthis manner they are otten thrown oil the ends of the shafts and againstthe operators who are liable to be injured in this manner.

The object of the present invention isto pro ide a starting crank designed to engage and rotate the shaft of the engine until the starting of the engine is effected whereupon said crank will be shifted longitudinally or the shaft, means being provided however for preventing it from leaving the shaft until the operator desires to remove it. Said crank however will remain practically stationary whi e the shaft rotates.

lVith these and other objects in view the invention consists ot certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

in the accompanying drawings the preferred forms of the invention have been shown.

in said drawings:-Figure l is a plan view of a portion of the shaft of an explosive engine. and )Ys1Ug he starting crank c i but enga c l rom lug on the shaft. mg. 2 is a that end of the shaft designed to be engaged by the crank. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the crank:

i-lelerring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates one of the shafts of the engine and this sh is provided adjacent its outer end with an annular groove 2.

Extending from the shaft at a point re Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February S, 1903'.

Patented lllay 3, 1910. Serial 1%. 476,754

shaft consists of an arm 5 having an eye 6 at one end thereof the opening 7 in which is slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the shaft 1. A recess 8 is formed within the wall of opening 7 and extends from one side to the other of the eye 6, one wall of said recess being parallel with the axis of theeye 6, while the opposite wall 9 of said recess is inclined longitudinally with relation to the first. men tioued wall.

A slot 10 is formed within the eyevand extends partly therearound, said slot'receiving a blade 11 formed at one end of a lever 12. This lever has ears 13 extending therefrom at intermediate points and straddling the arm 5, said ears being pivotally connected to they arm as indicated'at 14. One end of lever 12 extends close to the grip 15 which is arranged upon arm 5 and a spring 16 is interposed between lever 12 and arm 5 and serves to hold one edge of the blade 11 normally positioned within the opening 7. The width or" this projectin portion or the. blade is slightly less than he Width of the annular groove 2.

In using the device herein described the lever 12 is pressed toward the ip 15 of arm 5 so as to withdrawthe bla e 11 from the opening 7; The eye 6 can then be placed over the outer end of shaft 1 and moved toward the lug 3 which will thus become seated within the recess 8. When the crank is turned as ordinarily the straight longitudinal wall of the recess 8 presses against one of the side faces of lug 3 and the shaft 1 will thus be caused to rotate with the crank. lVhile this movement of the crank is being effected the lever 12 is of courscleft free so as to permitits blade 11 to bear upon the periphery of the shaft 1. As soon asthe initial explosion occurs within the engine the shaft 1 will'be propelled faster than the crank, and the beveled face 4 of lug 3'will be forced against the inclined wall 9 of recess 8 and the eye (3 will be shifted longitudinally of shaft 1 so as to become disengaged from the lug 3. Immediately sub- The crank used in connection with the.

sequent to this movement the blade .11 is move the crank it is merely necessary to draw the lever 12 toward the grip end of arm 5,

whereupon the blade 11 will be lifted from the groove 2.

It is of course to be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arran ement of parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. The combination with a shaft having an annular groove therein and a projection upon the shaft adjacent the groove, of a starting device revolubly and slidably mounted upon the shaft, said device having a recess for the reception of the projection, said projection and one Wall of the recess constltutin means for transmitting motion to the shaft from the starting device prior to the movement of the shaft under its own power and said projection and the other Wall of the recess cooperating to automatically disengage the starting device from the *projection immediately subsequent to the movement of the shaft under its own ower, and a spring controlled lever carried )y the starting device and having one end disposed to be automatically seated Within the annular groove during the movement of the starting device upon the shaft, the other end i l i 1 to rotate the shaft in onedirection, said means and projection coiiperating to shift the crank longitudinally of the shaft and out of engagement with the pro ection when the shaft starts under its own power, and a spring-controlled lever carried. by the crank and having one. end normally projecting through the slot and disposed to be automatically seated Within the groove during the completion of the sliding movement of the crank away from the projection, one end of saidlevcr being disposed adjacent the handle portion of the crank.

In testimony that I. claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EPHRAIM N.

Witnesses:

JAs. M. VVAULER, C. E. DOYLE. 

